Cape Town - Bongi Mbonambi is in the Springbok training group after all, but Scarra Ntubeni needs game time to get back into the national picture.
That was the word from Bok coach Allister Coetzee on Monday at the start of a four-day-long camp in Stellenbosch, where now 19 players have gathered in what has been termed a “fundamentals, rehabilitation and conditioning camp” at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS).
Mbonambi was not included in a list of 18 players announced on Sunday by the SA Rugby Union, but on Monday, Coetzee stated that the Stormers No 2 was in fact in camp, and that his omission was a “miscommunication”.
But Ntubeni was definitely left out, and will feature for Western Province in Friday’s Currie Cup opener against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. He was part of the Bok squad against Ireland in June, but again didn’t make his Test debut, while Mbonambi won his first cap in the decisive game in Port Elizabeth.
Ntubeni has been part of Springbok tours and squads under Heyneke Meyer as well, but has never made it on to the field. Coetzee believes that he has what it takes to play Test rugby, but the fact that he has had to play second-fiddle to Mbonambi at the Stormers has resulted in limited game time.
That is likely to result in Lions hooker Malcolm Marx challenging Mbonambi for a bench spot behind captain Adriaan Strauss for the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Nelspruit on August 20.
Sharks flyhalf Garth April is another who is likely to miss out on the Rugby Championship after a few disappointing performances for SA A and the Sharks in the last few weeks of Super Rugby.
“I have to be honest and say certain players will have to regain form by playing in the Currie Cup – we have that agreement with the unions. If there’s a player who is not on form or who needs game time – especially a player like Scarra Ntubeni. Coming to camp is not going to help him,” Coetzee said on Monday.
“We all know Scarra’s capabilities and the type of player he is, but he needs to play. If I just take this example – if you look at where Malcolm Marx is now currently, and you ask why? It’s because of regular game time.
“And the other question you have to ask yourself is: If (Lions hooker) Robbie Coetzee wasn’t injured, would Malcolm Marx have this improvement and growth in his game? Maybe not, because Robbie Coetzee has been on a Springbok tour already. Coetzee could’ve been ahead.
“And it’s the same reason why I think it’s important for Scarra Ntubeni to go and play Currie Cup, which is why he is not in this group as that tournament is starting this weekend. He would benefit more by playing.”
Coetzee confirmed that he will be naming a 31-man squad for the Rugby Championship on Saturday afternoon, after the Super Rugby final. He reiterated that overseas-based players such as Willie le Roux (Canon Eagles in Japan) and JP Pietersen (Leicester Tigers in England) were not considered for the training group, but were available for the Rugby Championship.
The Bok coach added that he will also pick some of the Springbok Sevens stars who are currently at the Rio Olympics, and it is believed that Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Seabelo Senatla and Cheslin Kolbe could be included for the Rugby Championship.
The Rio competition ends on August 11, and Coetzee stated that the Blitzboks chosen will arrive in the Bok camp by Monday, August 14.